A Community of Poets

Nearly 50 people gathered on Monday, March 8 in what turned out to be Parker’s first international reading of Parker poets for a Celebration of Poetry at Parker. Although the Zoom platform can feel distancing, Monday it allowed us to be together for our annual evening of original work. Poets and lovers of poetry from the disparate time zones of the U.S. and even Tel Aviv logged in to hear original poetry.

 

Those gathered heard the work of 14 poets, including alumni, faculty, students and friends. We were fortunate to hear from two Lower School poets, Elise Brand and Emma Heyman, from Kristyn McCullom and Nadia Pardesi’s 3rd grade classes. Middle School students, including 8th grader Uma Morris and 6th graders Julia McDade and Conor McGuire, read their poems.

 

Representing Upper School faculty and student poets were freshman Thalia Gordon, whose work was read by her teacher Cory Zeller, as well as sophomore Leena Mehta, junior Sofia Brown and our first poet of the  night, senior Julia Polsky. US English teachers Alicia Abood and Matt Laufer also shared recent works. Sixth grader Conor McGuire challenged Laufer, who read a found pantoum, “A New York Jew in Texas,” derived from a letter written by his grandfather.

 

The virtual nature of the event allowed a wider audience and group of poets, including Debby Blank and Cat Bentivegna Adami. Gita Mithal of Arlington, Massachusetts, grandparent of SK student Maya Mithal, with a lovely poem, “My Cosmos,” her tribute to her granddaughter.

 

Principal Dan Frank and the English Department sponsored the event, which Sarah Butterfield expertly organized.

 

Our next public poetry event happens Thursday, April 1. Join us for a virtual evening reading with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, followed by a Q&A.